PEI Looks Strongly At Irrigation

Cavendish Farms on Prince Island, Can., tired of relying on rain for potato production, is now asking that up to 30 percent of next season's PEI crop be irrigated.

Cavendish is going to the government to seek help in paying for the installation of sprinkler-irrigation systems.

This year's drought on the Island hammered the potato crop, which will be off 30-40 percent. This will hurt local processors, which have pre-contracted for the quantities of potatoes they will need to economically operate their plants.

AgraWest, a dehy plant, will be running only sporadically this season due to a lack of suitable potatoes.

American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall, in testimony before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works last week, recounted a long list of regulatory abuses and missteps by the federal government.

The budget deal approved by Congress and signed by President Trump includes a number of important agricultural provisions that will help America’s farmers and ranchers and support American food security.